~Dahlia's POV~
"Dahlia, now! Would you stop stalling and get this tray of food to the Prince?" The loud voice of Madame Angelique, the head maid, rang through the quiet kitchen and I bowed in respect.
"Yes ma'am!" I called back immediately and naturally I should get moving but I didn't. I couldn't. Not when there was a sharp pain throbbing in my midsection, inflicting me with pain so white and so hot, it made me double over as short gasps escaped my lips.
"Also, try not to keep him waiting!" She added with a snarl. The fierceness in her voice pushed me forward and I moved quickly to pick up the tray she had talked about, but as soon as I clutched the object, the pain intensified. An electrifying feeling zapped through my veins, forcing a choked gasp out of my mouth as tears sprung out of my eyes.
Madame Angelique threw me an irritated look and snarled; "What? Did I not just say that the Prince should not be kept waiting?"
Her voice, coupled with the pain in my lower abdomen made me wince. I dropped my head again and with the firmest voice I could muster, I said; "You did. I just need a minute please… I feel unwell."
'Unwell' was too light a word to describe exactly how I felt. I was in pain. Indescribable pain. I felt too hot and too sore all of a sudden, and from how heavy both of my breasts had suddenly become, I suspected that it had to be my heat.
But why now?
Why today of all days?
From under my lashes, I saw Madame Angelique fix me with a deathly glare. Between the sound of my blood rushing through my ears and my grunts, I heard her say something along the lines of; "Fix yourself!" Before she stepped out of the room, but at the same time, I didn't miss how she had dumped a small paper plate on the kitchen counter, just beside the Prince's food tray.
It wasn't until she was gone that I let out the breath I didn't even realize I was holding. I squeezed my eyes shut as I fought to stop the tears blurring my vision, but all my efforts were futile as the heat coursed through me in high waves. My weak omega nature and the fact that I was unbonded, making it even ten times worse.
My body spasmed and I gasped, and in desperation, I clamped my teeth down on my lips with as much force as I could muster, the action causing a bead of blood to gather on my lower lip, but this pain was nothing compared to the one zapping through my spine. It was nothing compared to the discomfort I felt as I began to rub myself against the kitchen counter, chasing for relief… fighting for something… anything that could give me some semblance of sexual satisfaction; But it didn't. If anything, it grew even more.
It was at this moment that my vision cleared just enough for me to see what she had dropped on the counter. It was a single piece of lavender soaked in wolfsbane. Both of which were items used to suppress the effects of heat.
I almost thanked her… almost. That is until I realized I was running late and that the Prince would be mad.
Blinded by my desperation, I stuffed the plant into my mouth and chewed hard on it. The taste and the effect of the wolfsbane on my tongue had me gagging, but to me, this was way better than walking around the house vulnerable and weak, and smelling alluring to all mated and unmated male wolves around.
By the time I was done, I realized to my utmost surprise that most of the effects of my heat had subsided… a little, and with a newfound sense of urgency, I balanced the tray on my hips and rushed out of the kitchen.
The plan was simple: get the food to the prince and make a beeline back to my room where I would hide for the rest of the day until I was better. Easy right? But unfortunately, it didn't turn out to be as simple.
The first ruin to my plan was the fact that as soon as I stepped into the Prince's chamber, I noticed that he was in his room… shirtless and was listening to some slow music playing from a fancy jukebox. The entire room and him reeked of alcohol and as soon as he saw me, he swiftly rose to his 6-point-something feet and walked over.
"My food…" he drawled. The slur in his voice acting as a testament of his drunken state.
I bowed. "Yes, your food, my Lord. I'm sorry I'm late."
I placed the tray on the single table in the room and made to turn away but as soon as I moved, he grabbed my upper arm, forcing me to spin around and I gasped as several sparks of electricity burst out at that singular contact. A moan escaped my lips before I could stop it and I only realized my mistake when I saw him cock his eyebrows at me, his smile soft.
He asked; "Why do you smell so… tantalizing?"
The question had been so simple, and the answer was equally as simple but at this point, I couldn't bring myself to respond. I could only close my eyes and wait for him to let me go… or help me out. Anyone.
My inner turmoil heightened as his domineering presence and this closeness between us was beginning to affect me in ways that I couldn't quite explain. I could feel my heat flare even more as waves of desire coursed through my body, coming only to settle between my legs.
The smell of my musk filled the air and from the slight twitch in his nostrils, I knew he could smell it too. He could smell just aroused I was, and maybe feel it too. Goosebumps of pleasure flared on my skin and the warmth of his body against mine triggered something primal in me. Something that made my body react to him before I could stop myself; and the emotions I tried so hard to control burst out from the depths of me, consuming me.
When he placed one finger under my chin, using it to propel my face forward to meet his, I gasped at the magnificence that he possessed. And the wantonness which is now suffocating me. He had that most beautiful set of green eyes I have ever seen with a mane of dark hair framing his face, but that was the only thing I could make out of him as my vision soon became blurry… Again.
He took a sniff of the air surrounding me, and with a gentle voice— one which was surprising for a person with his reputation— he asked; "Are you okay?"
Instinctively, I shook my head. My mouth had suddenly gone dry and my throat chapped. Tears stung my eyes but they refused to fall. I couldn't speak, couldn't move… and worst of all, I couldn't fight the gazillion sparks flying across my skin.
Like a wanton, I pressed my swollen breasts against his chest and rubbed it. Once. Then twice. Seeking relief. My movements were frantic, desperate even and my mannerisms made the Prince gaze down at me again; And this time, he grabbed both of my shoulders as he held me still, as if restraining my movements.
He muttered; "What is wrong, Nyx? Are you in heat?" And with a gentle tug he pulled my arm and began to drag me further into his chamber.
My face heated up as soon as I heard his question. However, I soon felt embarrassed because he'd referred to me by another name. The name of his betrothed— and the woman who had broken his heart only a day ago. It was no news around here that she'd called off their engagement and that was because she'd met a butler— a man of noble background who had swept her off her feet.
I could've told him right there and then that my name wasn't Nyx but Dahlia, and that I was nothing but a slave in heat. I could've explained this to him, begged him to let me go but I couldn't. My mouth was sealed, my core pulsating.
My body trembled too much and I was too horny, exceedingly horny that right now, all I could think of was the possibility of his skin against mine. Of his lips on my body. The sparks flying across my skin were too much, consuming me; And the scent of him made it even worse. I leaned into him, my legs too weak to hold me up, and when his eyes roved my body sensuously, I shook like a leaf under the wind.
Another wave of heat slammed into me like a freight train as soon as he pulled me further into his bedroom and in sheer desperation I leaned upward, latched both of my hands behind his back and slammed my lips against his.
Prince Zeke didn't pull away from me nor try to step away but when I pressed even closer, pushing myself into him, I heard the deep growl emanating from deep down his chest.
Just then a rasp knock sounded by the door. I could hear the king's voice. And was that Madame Angelique's voice too? My heart raced as my heat waned for a moment, replaced instead with the feeling of panic.
The king was here! Madame Angelique too and I couldn't help but wonder why. Flames of embarrassment heated up my face as I ducked with my heart pounding frantically in my chest. I needed to hide before they'd storm in. I had to.
However, before I could respond to find a place to hide, another wave of heat slammed into my midriff so hard and so bad that I gritted my clattering teeth. My vision waned and my grip on his chest loosened as I fell to the floor with a loud thump.
'Maybe this way it was better, I wouldn't have to face the king's wrath' I thought to myself as the darkness enveloped me and I slipped into oblivion.